![]() However, to our knowledge, there have been few systematic studies about the clinical features of delusional jealousy in persons suffering from dementia, 12 and little is known concerning the actual role of delusional jealousy in dementia. 13 These findings suggest that evaluation and treatment of delusional jealousy are of considerable importance in practice for demented patients. Furthermore, with respect to individual delusional symptoms, delusional jealousy has been identified as a risk factor for aggression and homicide, especially against one’s partner. ![]() 8 Tsai et al 12 comprehensively investigated the clinical features of delusional jealousy in patients with dementia within a psychiatric ward and identified delusional jealousy in as many as 15.6% of demented patients. 11 Delusional jealousy was described as the initial clinical symptom in the first clinical Alzheimer’s disease case reported by Alois Alzheimer. In dementia, delusions constitute one of the most prominent psychiatric complications. These findings suggest that neurologic elements very likely combine with psychodynamic factors to produce this specific condition. 8 Soyka et al 9 found that the prevalence of delusional jealousy was highest in organic psychoses (7.0%), followed by paranoid disorders (6.7%), alcohol psychosis (5.6%), and schizophrenia (2.5%) whereas in affective disorder, delusional jealousy was found in only 0.1% of patients. ![]() 1, 2 Delusional jealousy may be observed in many psychiatric disorders, but previous clinical reports have noted the association of this morbid condition in several organic psychoses, including stroke, 3, 4 Parkinson’s disease, 5, 6 traumatic brain injury, 7 and dementia. ĭelusional jealousy, also known as Othello’s syndrome, is a psychotic disorder characterized by the belief in the infidelity of one’s spouse or lover that reaches delusional intensity. Online ahead of print: Ap( doi:10.4088/JCP.14m09018 ).Ĭorresponding author: Mamoru Hashimoto, MD, PhD, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan (. © Copyright 2015 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. In dementia, delusional jealousy may develop more easily in patients who have dementia with Lewy bodies and those with coexisting serious physical disorders. Delusional jealousy resolved within 12 months after treatment in 15 of 18 patients (83%).Ĭonclusions: Although delusional jealousy is a considerable problem in dementia, the prognosis of delusional jealousy in demented patients appears to be relatively benign. On the other hand, delusional jealousy was preceded by the onset of serious physical diseases in nearly half of the patients. 22), and Mini-Mental State Examination score ( P =. 29), presence of other persons living with the couple ( P =. There were no significant differences between patients with and without delusional jealousy in regard to gender ( P = 1.00), age ( P =. The prevalence of delusional jealousy in patients who had dementia with Lewy bodies (26.3%) was significantly higher than that in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (5.5%) ( P <. Results: Of the 208 patients with dementia, 18 (8.7%) showed delusional jealousy. ![]() In addition, each patient with delusional jealousy and their primary caregivers were interviewed about the clinical features of the syndrome. Patients with and without delusional jealousy were compared in terms of general characteristics. The prevalence of delusional jealousy was compared between Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and vascular dementia. Delusional jealousy was defined as a false belief derived from a pathological jealousy that makes the patient believe that his or her spouse is unfaithful. Method: We studied 208 consecutive outpatients with dementia (diagnosis based on DSM-III-R criteria mean age of 77.0 years study period: September 2011-August 2012). The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical features of delusional jealousy and possible mechanisms whereby delusional jealousy arises in patients with dementia. Although delusional jealousy has been described in relation to organic psychosis, little is known concerning the actual role of delusional jealousy in dementia. Objective: Delusional jealousy is a psychotic syndrome characterized by a belief in the infidelity of one’s spouse that reaches delusional intensity.
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